Student Poetry Competition 2023: Foundation – Year 2 Winners

There was no shortage of talent among our youngest poets for this year’s Student Poetry Competition.

Congratulations to Mia Chen (Wesley College), Georgia Stuckey (Harkaway Hills College) and all of those who received honourable mentions in the Foundation-Year 2 category.

 

The competition, part of the Arts Learning Festival, was open to students from all school sectors, and attracted almost 600 entries.

Written poetry winners
‘A vividly contextual poem that flows from the first word to the last.’
‘The Friendship Journey’
Mia Chen, Wesley College

Some friendships are like major chords,

Uplifting, intense and strong.

Some friendships are like minor chords,

Subtle, emotional and echoed.

Both are beautiful.

 

Some friendships are legato,

Smooth and continuous.

Some friendships are staccato,

Detached and clear.

Both are enjoyable.

 

Make friends who share your values,

Make friends who support you.

Be true to yourself,

That makes a perfect cadence!

 

*Cadence is used to end a musical phrase.

‘A lovely, personal story about growing up and being brave.’
‘Holding On’
Georgia Stuckey, Harkaway Hills College

I feel uncomfortable as the waves go on.

I fall into the water.

And drift away.

But I know I am no longer on the land.

I shiver.

And I hold on.

But I know that I am no longer alone.

 

Fish and squid, dolphins and octopus.

Tiny fish, fat fish, long fish, big fish,

All kind of fish surround me.

I love it.

I take a few breaths before going back under water.

And I am still holding on.

It gets dark and things glow.

But I am still holding on.

 

I go and go and know that I am still holding on.

I get nervous.

But I know that I am still holding on.

It takes guts for this,

So I’ve got to learn courage, and be bigger.

It is trust that leads the way.

To come back and go home.

 

You can lead the way too.

I go to sleep because we need to hold on.

I know you are watching me,

I will watch over you too.

For being brave and being a leader is what we do.

Goodnight.

Hold on.

Honourable mentions
  • Gadaa Adem, Fitra Community School – ‘On my way to school’
  • Leo Bott, St. Leonard’s College – ‘The cat and dog’
  • Nathan Chin, Fitzroy Community School – ‘BMX’
  • Patrick Elias, Fitzroy Community School – ‘Piano Journey’
  • Olivia Healey, Strathcona Girls Grammar School – ‘Singing with Mum’
  • Reneisha Patidar, Sacre Coeur – ‘Season’
  • Ava Samini, St. Leonard’s College – ‘My Forest’
  • Cedric Searle-Finnocchiaro, Fitzroy Community School – ‘On a Plane’
  • Madelyn Tan, Harkaway Hills College – ‘The Sea’
  • Ada Ugurlu, Fitzroy Community School – ‘Journey’
  • Claudia Yang, Lighthouse Christian College – ‘My Journey to the Zoo’